Courageous Kids - 2001 Calendar

Last Modified: November 1, 2001

FOCUS on Oncology is a volunteer group of families and friends dedicated to advancing the fight against childhood cancer at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Cancer Research Center. While our goal is to provide information and support to the families whose children are suffering from this life-threatening disease, our mission is to raise funds for research that will ultimately cure all children with cancer.

All of the artwork in this calendar was created by children with cancer, either as inpatients at Children's Hospital's recently renovated Marsha and Jeffrey Perelman Oncology Unit and the Jeffry Jay Weinberg Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, or as outpatients during their visits for treatment. We thank these marvelous, courageous youngsters for sharing their feelings and emotions with us. The opportunity to communicate through art, under the guidance of the Hospital's Child Life Program, offers a valuable outlet for these youngsters, during an otherwise difficult period -- a time often marked by isolation and helplessness.

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death from disease in children in the United States today. However, cancers considered incurable 25 years ago now respond to treatments which produce remarkable recovery rates. The proceeds from calendar sales benefit The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Cancer Research Center. The Center administers care to 80% of all pediatric cancer patients in the Delaware Valley.

We deeply appreciate the many businesses and individuals who have sold calendars in the past and who are selling them again this year. And we are pleased that the Please Touch Museum (Philadelphia) again is showing the artwork for two months in late 2000.

We appreciate your interest and support, thereby assuring a brighter future for our young patients. For more information on FOCUS on Oncology and how you can help, please call 215-590-4475.

Heartfelt gratitude and appreciation go to our friends at Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories for continuing to underwrite this entire calendar project. The creative design was donated by a team of talented graphic artists from 30 West Advertising (a Wyeth-Ayerst Company). Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories supported the costs of production.

January

Briana Glacken (age 8)
Philadelphia, PA

"Hi, my name is Briana Glacken and I am a girl who has cancer. Cancer is not fun but all the nurses at Children's Hospital have made my days brighter and helped me get through it all. I look forward to being cured. My doctor is the greatest."

February

Lisa Rondina (age 10)
Wall, New Jersey

"I just want to say 'thank you' to all who have helped me during my stay at the hospital. I also have something to say to those of you in treatment... NEVER GIVE UP!!!"

March

Howard Stickley (age 5)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"This fall, I want to do soccer and Cub Scouts. I am not going to let the leukemia stop me from doing the things I want to do."

April

Georgiana Antonopoulos
(age 7)
Bensalem, Pennsylvania

"I am going to beat this cancer monster up."

May

Berry Woodrow (age 16)
West Chester, Pennsylvania

"Being in the hospital gave me the opportunity to paint."

June

Maria Nenartovich (age 18)
Cherry Hill, New Jersey

"When I was diagnosed with cancer, I thought that it was the end of the world. I was wrong: it was the beginning of a beautiful life in an amazing world, life full of new discoveries and love and happiness. The cancer was the greatest present I ever received from God..."

July

Mark Schnepp (age 10)
Tuckerton, New Jersey

"Starchamp starts his boxing career."

August

Brenda Baptiste (age 6)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"When I go outside I feel like I am looking at the whales."

September

Ashleigh Olsen (age 9)
Point Pleasant, New Jersey

"I drew this picture because I missed home. I bet you sometimes miss home. I love home. I don't like the hospital."

October

Jimmy Yurkonis (age 12 1/2)
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey

"Every day I treasure life and so should you. And I hope you don't have to have a life-threatening disease for you to realize this."

November

D.J. Carlino (age 9)
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

"This picture of Tarzan shows courage and strength. That's what you need when you have cancer."

December

Aliza Mulloy (age 8)
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

"It is a nut cracker. It has white hair and was in the army. It is very colorful. It has a crown on his hat."